TONG Tik-sang of YPT
TONG’s scripts for Sin Fung Ming Troupe categorically surpassed those of his contemporaries. They not only shone in the 1950’s but are also able to connect with the modern times. TONG is like a piece of precious jade bestowed onto Hong Kong by Heaven. While taking shelter from him and inheriting his artistic and cultural legacy, we definitely should not just stop there.

Brief Biography
TONG Tik-sang (1917.06.18 – 1959.09.15), born in Zhongshan County, Guangdong Province, he is a cousin of TONG Syut-hing (wife of SIT Gok-sin). He joined Gok Sin Sing Troupe and learned from the renowned playwright Naam-hoi Sap-saam-long. He also worked as an important assistant to, and largely influenced by, playwright FUNG Zi-fan. He was the top Canto-opera playwright in the 1950s. Starting from mid-1950s, he wrote several new scripts for Sin Fung Ming based on scripts of Yuan and Ming dynasties. With his unique insight and ability to assimilate the past and the present and meticulous deliberations with PAK Suet-sin, he created such classics as “Peony Pavilion”, “Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom”, “Floral Princess”, “Purple Hairpin”, “Reincarnation”, etc., writing a glamorous chapter in the history of Canto-opera.
 
Mr. TONG also wrote several scripts for other troupes. While he was extremely creative, his career reached its climax when he worked for Sin Fung Ming. The scripts written then have become classics in the Canto-opera history. Regrettably he died young, a huge loss to the Canto-opera arena.
 
Extract from “Memories of Sin Fung Ming in Full Blossom”, 1995, Joint Publishing

2011
In TONG’s works, the most eye-catching features are his graceful diction and lover sotry. Then, an inner layer exhibits arresting dramatic tension. Digging deeper, one finds the soul and spirit of characters, and modernity. In partnership with Y&P of Sin Fung Ming, he became part of YPT, the legendary Canto-opera trio of Hong Kong.
 
It can be said that the fourth layer of his works is a pleasant discovery of late: present-day relevance and powerful empathy. Between lines the audience can feel their timelessness, as they were alive yesterday, are so today, and will so tomorrow.
 
Our response to our reading of the fifth layer of his works, namely “break new grounds and innovate, bearing tradition in mind”. We once mounted the project TL50 (TONG’s Latest 50), which spanned a number of years, when we staged TONG’s works, restored classic movies by YPT, and put up theatrical concerts. “The Final Chapter•The Creative Era” of the project consisted of staging the newly authored Canto-opera ArenA, because we held that writing on is the deepest tribute to Mr. TONG.

2014
Fragrant Death‧His Butterflies is the third episode of the Fragrant Death series. In memory of TONG Tik-sang 55 years after he left us, we presented this unusual concert with nearly 50 excerpts from his works. While the librettos were taken from different Canto-operas of his, montage worked to trigger different readings and visions on the part of the audience.


Floral Princess 65th Anniversary
a series of 9 events
Floral Princess | Professional Edition
ArenA | Write on, as THE tribute to YAM-PAK-TONG
Floral Princess | Theatre Student Edition
Floral Princess | Theatrical Concert Student Edition
Floral Princess | Recital Student Edition
Call Loud Yeah! | Black Box Theatre Festival
Seoi-bo-long Video Festival
A Collection of Coeng-ping Images 65
Raining Petals: An Orchestral Re-imagining